National Show Shepton Mallett

[richardr]

What about the Southport Flower Show 15th - 18th August 2013? I remember going, exhibiting, in the late 60's and what a fantastic show it was then. Timing isn't too bad either. Shrewsbury is the week before, I can remember there were years when we wondered just what we were going to cut to exhibit there but it always turned out all right. We then travelled up to Southport with all the exhibition equipment to get set up before the blooms arrived on the Monday. Great adventure for a 14 / 15 / 16 year old back then!

Of course, it's a bit of a trek for a southerner!

[Geranium]

I do hope you find an alternative venue. It's a real shame that Shepton Mallett is closing, but inevitable (and their own fault!)

[scrumpy]

I'd love it to be at Southport, but unfair on the southern growers as you say.

[Deleted]

I'm more concerned with the date !! than the venue.

Shepton and Harrogate currently have a 2 week window whereby a moderate level of stagger stopping is achievable even if you only grow small quantities of any given variety. To increase the gap between the big NDS shows to 4 weeks might create a problem.

[Deleted]

Jan 12, 2013 20:01:05 GMT scrumpy said:

I'd love it to be at Southport, but unfair on the southern growers as you say.

I recall a sign on the A5 by Atherstone saying Shrewsbury 67 miles, surely this would be a nice run for you scrumpy ?

[scrumpy]

Lovely run, just that southport being a week later than Shrewsbury would be ideal date wise. Very difficult with a 3 week gap.

[Deleted]

I attended the Midlands tuber sale last night and had quite a lengthy chat with Ron Guest regarding the national show.

It looks very much likely that it will be in conjuction with the Wisley show.

Although no final decision has been made by the EC it is favouring the southern venue because of the facilities and the financial support Wisley are offering to get our national show in with them. I believe Wisley attracts somewhere in the region of 40.000 visitors through their gates.

The pitfalls are it will be a midweek show and a reduction in classes to accomodate the entries expected.

I also understand there is no perminent parking to be sited by the tent, so unloading and then moving your vehicles will be necessary.

They have a meeting with the Atherstone venue managers next week so unless they can come up with a equil or better package then it will be at Wisley.

Ron explained time is not on our side due to the unexpected cancellation of the Shepton Mallet show only days before the 2013 show schedule proofs were to go to the printers.

[marynz]

Jan 17, 2013 10:19:37 GMT @woodforddahlias6 said:

The pitfalls are it will be a midweek show and a reduction in classes to accomodate the entries expected.

I also understand there is no perminent parking to be sited by the tent, so unloading and then moving your vehicles will be necessary.

Ouch, feeling for your people who show! Those are some pretty big pitfalls.

[Moonlight]

Jan 17, 2013 10:25:57 GMT marynz said:

Jan 17, 2013 10:19:37 GMT @woodforddahlias6 said:

The pitfalls are it will be a midweek show and a reduction in classes to accomodate the entries expected.

I also understand there is no perminent parking to be sited by the tent, so unloading and then moving your vehicles will be necessary.

Ouch, feeling for your people who show! Those are some pretty big pitfalls.

The whole situation is rubbish but you never know maybe the numbers of entries / classes will go up a lot quicker than expected. If people believe that it has the potential to be a better show, people who had stopped showing / was not going to bother showing any more might be tempted to start again, all it would take is one very good show and word of mouth, would make it have a higher rate of success but there is an awful lot riding on this show being a success. Parking issues really won't help all those people that hire a van just to exhibit.

[Deleted]

What people must remember is the financies of the NDS are not in great shape following years of mismanagement combined with dwindling memberships.

So the new show venue has to be financially viable or we move closer to the NDS going under.

I believe as it stands Wisley are offering a creditable solution to us:

1) having a venue for our show this year and

2) offering financial enducements which effectively will keep money in the society.

If this hobby that we all love is to survive at national level an element of business sense must be applied or it will follow the same path as many national societys and shows that have already dissapeared.

[sweetpea]

I still remember exhibiting at Wisley when the sweetpea national was held there. The National Delphinium show was also held at the same time.
What a nightmare it was
Once we had our exhibits up we had to leave the venue and couldn't get back in for ages because the Queen mother was there and security wouldn't even let the exhibitors back in after judging until much later in the day.
Whether the organisation was due to the Wisley staff or the NSPS I don't know but many other shows I have been to were much better organised.
There was a show at a village called Shalford just outside Guildford which acted as a trial run for the national and all the top exhibitors used to show there and come from miles around.
Whatever the show I think the keen show folk will make the effort to get to the venue regardless of distance.
What is needed is a decent local/county show with sufficient space to allow national exhibitors to hold their show alongside though separate.
If more than one venue could be found then staggering the venue from year to year would let exhibitors travel from near and far.
Just a though as I haven't checked but where is the NCS national held? their times would also suit the dahlia shows.
Just checked and the NCS early national is at Stafford county showground early September.

[dcdahlia]

I am not at all suprised they are going to opt for wisley.I know of a lot of growers who will not be going to wisley and without the growers supporting the shows the society will fold anyway.There is a chance to have the show smack bang in the centre of the uk so it is fairer for everyone but as I say I am not suprised but I will leave it there

[Tel]

Maybe, we will just finish up with one show at Harrogate if finances and membership continues to decline.

[scrumpy]

Jan 17, 2013 13:27:26 GMT @woodforddahlias6 said:

What people must remember is the financies of the NDS are not in great shape following years of mismanagement combined with dwindling memberships.

So the new show venue has to be financially viable or we move closer to the NDS going under.

I believe as it stands Wisley are offering a creditable solution to us:

1) having a venue for our show this year and

2) offering financial enducements which effectively will keep money in the society.

If this hobby that we all love is to survive at national level an element of business sense must be applied or it will follow the same path as many national societys and shows that have already dissapeared.

Is the reason many shows have disappeared mainly due to lack of exhibitors?
If so, going somewhere that people don't want would be a disaster.
Without hearing the alternative I don't think anyone can say that Wisley is the best option, and members should be consulted when both are on the table.
If that means dropping the national for one season then that is what should be done.

[richardr]

I remember the NDS when it was held at RHS HQ Vincent Square, tickets attached!